Homeland Memorial Issue May 2018

Vol. 5 Number 5 • May 2018

Homeland Veterans Magazine

MEMORIAL DAY ISSUE 2018 In Flanders Fields

In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses row on row, That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below.

Memorial Day A Time For Heroes

Living After Sacrifice: Honoring Heroes Who Gave Their Lives in Battle

Women in the Military Former USMC EOD Still Helping Vets Relax Careers In Law Enforcement Transitioning To Civilian Life ENLISTED TO ENTREPRENEUR Financial - Legal Veteran Leadership

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PTSD TREATMENT DECISION AID: THE CHOICE IS YOURS

Wondering which PTSD treatment is right for you?

Use the PTSD Treatment Decision Aid to learn about and compare treatments.

HOW DOES IT WORK? Watch Video Interviews with Providers Compare the Treatments You Like Best Find Answers to Frequently Asked Questions Get a Personalized Summary

WHO IS IT FOR? PATIENTS: The Decision Aid teaches you about your options and gets you ready to work with your provider to choose the best treatment for you.

PROVIDERS: The Decision Aid educates your patients about evidence-based PTSD treatments.

Review it together in session, or have your patients work through it at home.

There are effective treatments for PTSD. You have options. The choice is yours.

The PTSD Treatment Decision Aid is an online tool to help you learn about effective treatments and think about which one might be best for you.

www.ptsd.va.gov/decisionaid 2

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VETERANS

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HOMELANDMAGAZINE.COM Resources Support Inspiration

Homeland Veterans Magazine Voted 2017 Best Resource, Support Media for veterans, military families and transitioning military personnel.

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EDITOR’S

LETTER

Publisher Editor-In-Chief Mike Miller Contributing Writers CJ Machado Vicki Garcia - Enlisted Joe Molina - VCCSD Holly Shaffner Honor Flight Shelter to Soldier Eva M. Stimson Boot Campaign Barry Smith Wounded Warrior Project Vesta Anderson John Roberts DAV - Steven Wilson USO - Sharon Smith Andrew McClure Operation Homefront Stephen Thomas Chris Martin Sevrine Banks Kelly Bagla. Esq. Public Relations CJ Machado Thomas McBrien

Greetings and a warm welcome to HOMELAND Magazine!

Please take some time to get to know the layout of our magazine. Homeland Magazine focuses on real stories from real heroes; the service member, the veteran, the wounded and the families that keep it together.

Our magazine is driven by passion, vision, reflection and the future. The content is the driving force behind our magazine and the connection it makes with service members, families, veterans and civilians. Homeland is about standing your ground, resilience, adaptation, inspiration and solidarity.

HOMELAND is inspirational, “feel good” reading; our focus is on veterans, military and civilians alike. I believe HOMELAND is where the heart is, and our publication covers a wide variety of topics, and issues about real life and real stories.

We are honored to share the work of so many committed and thoughtful people.

Marketing/Sales Mike Miller Gina Henderson Entertainment Media Bob Dietrich Calvin Goetz

Homeland Magazine is published monthly.

Submissions of photographs, Illustrations, drawings, and manuscripts are considered unsolicited materials and the publisher assumes no responsibility for the said items.

All rights reserved.

We appreciate your support and are so happy to have you as a reader of HOMELAND Magazine.

Homeland Magazine 9528 Miramar Road, Suite 41 San Diego, CA 92126

With warmest thanks, Mike Miller, Publisher

858.275-4281 Contact Homeland Magazine at:

info@homelandmagazine.com 4

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Memorial Day We Will Never Forget

inside this issue 7 2018 Military Child of the Year® Award 11 Women in the Military 12 Veterans Can Become Civic Assets 14 Former USMC EOD Still Helping Vets Relax 18 Living After Sacrifice 23 Memorial Day - Veterans Day: What’s The Difference?

24 Memorial Day: A Time For Heroes 27 Flanders Fields 30 Enlisted To Entrepreneur 32 Military and Veterans, What Does Transition Mean?

34 Veteran Leadership 36 The IRS Is Calling, Now What?

37 Questions On Starting A Business 39 Careers in Law Enforcement

DIGITAL VERSION AVAILABLE WWW.HOMELANDMAGAZINE.COM

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Seven Outstanding Teens Receive Operation Homefront 2018 Military Child of the Year® Award Joined by senior leaders of the nation’s armed forces, Operation Homefront, serving America’s military families®, presented seven outstanding military teenagers today with the prestigious Operation Homefront 2018 Military Child of the Year® Award at the annual awards gala. United Technologies Corporation was the gala’s presenting sponsor.

Additional sponsors included Booz Allen Hamilton, Procter & Gamble, Microsoft, MidAtlanticBroadband, LaQuinta Inns & Suites, Under Armour, and Veterans United Home Loans. Military Times was the media sponsor.

The Operation Homefront Military Child of the Year® Award is the nation’s premier celebration of the achievements of our military children.

2018 marks the 10th anniversary of the awards, which each year has provided the extraordinary young recipients with opportunities to be recognized by senior military leaders, elected officials, celebrities, and other remarkable military children.

The award recipients were selected for their scholarship, volunteerism, leadership, extracurricular involvement, and other criteria while facing the challenges of military family life.

Six of the awardees represented the armed forces branch in which their parent either serves or has served — Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, and the National Guard. Each service branch’s awardee was selected by a panel of independent volunteer judges with deep roots in the military-support community.

The seventh awardee received the Military Child of the Year® Award for Innovation, presented by global technology and consulting firm Booz Allen Hamilton.

This award is presented to a military child who has designed a bold and creative solution to address a local, regional or global challenge.

The seven Operation Homefront 2018 Military Child of the Year ® Award recipients are, from the left, National Guard: Aaron Hall, 16, of Coarsegold, California, who attends Minarets High School; Army: Rebekah Paxton, 17, of Harrisonville, Missouri, who is home-schooled; Military Child of the Year Award for Innovation Presented by Booz Allen Hamilton: Shelby Barber, 17, of Ewa Beach, Hawaii, who attends James Campbell High School; Coast Guard: Roark Corson, 17, of Virginia Beach, Virginia, who attends Ocean Lakes High School; Navy: Isabelle Richards, 14, of Jamul, California, who attends High Tech Middle School; Air Force: Eve Glenn, 16, of Tampa, Florida, who attends T. R. Robinson High School; and Marine Corps: Joshua Frawley, 14, of Jacksonville, North Carolina, who attends White Oak High School.

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Nevertheless She Persisted Women in the Military

Nevertheless She Persisted, the 2018 women’s history theme, could easily be the mantra of American women in the military. Because of social ideas about the female experience, women have often been written out of military history. Yet, women’s patriotic duty, no less than men’s have inspired hundreds of thousands of women to support their country during our times of need. Whether playing a supportive role as water bearers, cooks, laundresses, nurses or as active military (often having to pass as men).

In our recent history, women not only continue in vital support roles as nurses, but also in combat and as field commanders and as officers. The bravery of countless women since the establishment of our country gives us a legacy of strength and persistence.

As greater numbers of women chose a military career and expand the diversity of the Armed Forces their stories expand our own sense of possibility and opportunity.

Deborah Sampson who disguised herself as a man was as a hero of the American revolution. She was given the dangerous task of scouting British territory.

She is the only woman to receive a pension from the Revolutionary War. Harriet Tubman served as an armed scout and spy for the Union Army. She was the first woman to lead an armed expedition in the war, which liberated 700 enslaved people.

Diane Carlson Evans is a former Army nurse who served in Vietnam, founded the Vietnam Women’s Memorial Foundation to spearhead a campaign to place a national monument in Washington, DC, recognizing the contributions of military women to their country, as well as civilian women’s patriotic service.

Delphine Netcalf-Foster was injured while serving as support for the Grave Registration Company Mission in Saudi Arabia during Desert Storm/ Desert Shield. In 2017, she was elected as the first female African American national commander for the one million members of the Disabled American Veterans of America (DAVA).

Tammie Jo Schults currently is in the news because of her successful landing on April 17, 2018 of disabled Southwest Flight 1380. From her earliest memories, she always knew that she was destined to fly and challenged the countless barriers to keep women from earning their wings. In 1999, she became a military aviator paving the way for female flight pilots.

The women noted here are but a fraction of the hundreds of thousands of women who represent the female experience in the military. Please join the National Women’s History Project in honoring all women who have served our great country. Each and every service woman is the embodiment of the idea that Nevertheless She Persisted.

Dr. Mary Walker was an abolitionist, prisoner of war and Civil War surgeon. She is the only women to receive the Medal of Honor. .

The National Women’s History Project recognizes and celebrates the diverse and historic accomplishments of women by providing informational services and educational and promotional materials. www.nwhp.org

Jacqueline Cochran was a pioneer in the field of aviation and was an essential contributor to establishing The Women Air Force Service Pilots (WASP) who worked as civil service pilots, test pilots and anti-aircraft artillery trainers

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How Communities Can Give Veterans The Opportunity to Become Civic Assets

By Jim Lorraine, President and CEO of America’s Warrior Partnership

Our goal at America’s Warrior Partnership is to empower communities with the resources, knowledge and connections they need to holistically serve and support local veterans. This includes showcasing veterans as assets who can strengthen their homes, workplaces and their communities as a whole. The challenge in accomplishing this is that most people across the nation have a split perception of veterans within their community.

Got Your Six, a nonprofit dedicated to normalizing the depictions of veterans on film and television, regularly assesses how average civilians view veterans in their communities. The organization’s research found that most veterans are perceived as both “broken” and “heroes” within their communities. However, there is the potential to shift these views to focus on the positive perceptions that can empower veterans.

One of the most encouraging findings from Got Your Six’s research is that people are five times more likely to say post-9/11 veterans are strong leaders and valuable assets to their communities as opposed to comparable civilians. Civilians recognize veterans as outstanding individuals, and with the right support from local service providers, veterans can become tremendous assets who strengthen the communities around them.

To guide community organizations and local service providers towards offering better services and opportunities to warriors, our team conducts an annual survey measuring the strengths, needs, growth and satisfaction of veterans, their families and caregivers nationwide. Here are some of the key takeaways from this year’s survey.

Veterans Seek Opportunities To Connect With and Give Back To Their Community Many community leaders understandably believe that the most sought-after services by veterans are related to urgent matters, such as housing or healthcare.

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While these kind of urgent resources are critically important, they are not the areas where the majority of veterans are seeking assistance.

For two years in a row, our survey has found that the resources veterans seek out are primarily focused around opportunities to connect with their community.

More specifically, this year the survey revealed that: • 55.9 percent of veterans seek greater opportunities for recreational or other physical activities; • 48 percent of veterans seek greater opportunities to connect with other military service members, veterans, and families/caregivers; and • 39.8 percent of veterans seek volunteer opportunities.

Overall, one in five warriors are looking for either a connection to other military members, families, recreational activities or simply ways to continue serving in a civilian capacity through volunteerism. Service providers that can guide veterans towards ways to connect with and give back to the community will help strengthen the outlook and satisfaction of local veterans, while also tapping into dedicated individuals ready to strengthen their community.

Proactive Outreach and Frequent Contact Are Essential In addition to assessing the type of resources veterans are seeking, our survey investigated the most effective means of engaging veterans. The results found that, on average, twice as many veterans seeking resources within the communities we surveyed were engaged through outreach efforts as opposed to walk-ins.

In short, veteran-serving organizations that employ proactive outreach strategies are reaching far more warriors in need than those that wait for veterans to come to them.

Another key finding from our survey was that nearly 25 percent of veterans reported they felt a sense of wellbeing within the first three months of engaging with a community organization. The number of veterans who experienced this wellbeing skyrocketed to 75 percent after three months of engagement with a community organization. In other words, service providers not only have to be proactive in reaching out to veterans, but also diligent in establishing longterm relationships that help veterans feel like they belong in the community.

• 36 percent of veterans actively participate in community events, as opposed to 30 percent last year;

Communities Are Showing Positive Momentum

These communities are already moving in the right direction to offer veterans the best support possible.

With this insight into the resources veterans seek and the methods of engagement that are most successful, more service providers and organizations can follow this lead to empower local warriors so they feel like they belong in the community and have the opportunity to continue serving as civic assets to their families, friends and neighbors.

America’s Warrior Partnership works with several affiliate communities located throughout the nation, and we share the findings of our annual survey with themevery year.

Local service providers, nonprofits and other organizations within our affiliate communities have taken these findings to heart.

After a year of emphasizing proactive outreach frequent contact and opportunities for recreation, volunteerism and networks, we’ve seen many positive increases in veterans’ perception of their place within their community. This year’s survey found that:

• Veterans’ perception that they can thrive in their community increased by 8 percent year over year; and • 81 percent of veterans feel they have the resources they need within their community, as opposed to 75 percent last year.

About the Author Jim Lorraine is President and CEO of America’s Warrior Partnership, a national non-profit that helps veteran service organizations connect with veterans, military members and families in need. Learn more about the organization at www.AmericasWarriorPartnership.org

“One in five warriors are looking for either a connection to other military members, families, recreational activities or simply ways to continue serving in a civilian capacity through volunteerism. “

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Former USMC EOD Tech Johnny Morris Still Helping Vets Relax While Thriving On Alabama’s Gulf Coast

By Barry Smith, Boot Campaign

There is a famous quote from an unknown source that is often repeated around Memorial Day and other American military holidays that goes as follows: “May we never forget freedom isn’t free.”

For U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sergeant Johnny Morris, a Boot Campaign Veteran Ambassador, that reminder to “never forget” will not be an issue for him the rest of his life, even as he spends most of his time these days on a boat fishing for the big catch in the waters of Alabama’s Gulf Coast.

Morris was part of a special breed of Marines, spending his final years in the military as an explosive ordnance disposal technician (EOD). He prided himself in being part of this stellar group of uniquely qualified specialists, who could bring calm to others in the midst of very tense situations. He survived many dangerous challenges throughout his career despite being severely injured in his second deployment to Afghanistan. Several of his comrades, however, paid the ultimate sacrifice.

“The EOD community as a whole has sacrificed a lot of great men in the performance of their duty,” explains Morris. “I lost my first team leader, Gunnery Sergeant E.J. Pate, a week before I was injured. He was our section leader at the time, and a role model for every EOD technician in our unit. When they told me that I would be collecting his body and personal items, I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. I prayed that it was a mistake and that E.J. was just missing somehow and that I would find him, and he would be fine. I remember seeing his helmet laying in a field all by itself, torn to shreds. That is when I knew he was gone.

“Memorial Day is a day to reflect on the times, good and bad, that I had with guys who I can’t call and talk to anymore,” admits Morris, who medically retired in April 2013 after serving eight years and nine months in the Marines, including one tour to Iraq and two to Afghanistan. “I will generally call other guys who knew the same guys and we talk about the guys not with us anymore. Sometimes we laugh, sometimes cry, but we keep those guys memories alive.”

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“Waves of sadness, misunderstanding, sorrow, and rage came over me,” he remembers vividly. “I wanted revenge. I knew what it was to hate. I had never taken our job as personally as I did that day and thereafter. It probably did not help me do my job, looking back on it.”

Although his grandfather Thomas Morris was a U.S. Army veteran who did three tours in Vietnam, Morris knew he would be a Marine when he was just a kid growing up in Loxley, Ala.

When he was still a youngster, Morris and his family were at the airport picking up his uncle Thomas Morris, Jr., who was a Marine sergeant returning from Operation Desert Storm. When he saw his uncle emerge from the aircraft, he mentioned to his mother that he wanted to be a Marine when he grew up. Approximately 10 years later as a 17-year-old in July 2004, he had his parents sign the paperwork that would enable him to enlist in the Marine Corps’ Delayed Entry Program and a short while later found himself first stationed Okinawa, Japan.

From Oct. 2009 to April 2010, Staff Sgt. Morris took part in Operation Enduring Freedom with the first of his two deployments to Afghanistan. His contributions on his first deployment to Afghanistan earned him a Combat Action ribbon and Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medial with a “V” signifying acts of valor.

Morris served two years in Okinawa as a heavy equipment mechanic at Marine Wing Support Squadron 172, before returning to the U.S. in Feb. 2007 where he was stationed at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., as part of the 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion.

Within three days, arriving on July 5, 2011, he was transported to what is now known as Walter Reed National Military Medical Center Hospital in Bethesda, Md. He spent nearly a year in rehabilitation at Walter Reed before transferring back to Camp Lejeune, where he medically retired on April 29, 2013.

His second deployment came in April 2011, an assignment that led to him suffering traumatic brain injuries and massive damage to his legs resulting from two separate improvised explosive device (IED) blasts.

He was deployed to Iraq in Oct. 2007 as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom where he spent seven months. His actions earned him a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal. While in Iraq, he made a lateral move in the Marines to become an EOD technician, and returned to Camp Lejeune in April 2008, and then received further training at EOD school at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. Although his time in Iraq helped Morris in the process of becoming an EOD technician, it was his in-the-field experience in Japan that really solidified his decision.

“I kind of made my mind up in Okinawa when we were pushing down some trees and came upon this Japanese mortar pit from World War II,” reflects Morris.

“All of it had been in the ground until we uncovered it, and everybody was super tense. There was a real tense charge in the air, and I remember the EOD guys showed up and you could feel that tension stop. That feeling stuck out in my mind. Those EOD cats are here, and we are going to be alright. I wanted that.

“I joined the Marine Corps to do something,” he clarifies. “Everybody told me that you should do a job in the military that you could use when you get out. Originally, I wanted to be an armorer, because I’d worked in a gun shop growing up. When I got to Japan I found out what it was like to be a maintenance guy, and the higher rank you get the more paperwork you had to do. I didn’t join the Marines to do paperwork.

When these EOD guys showed up, everyone seemed to relax, and that was kind of cool. That’s when I made up my mind I wanted to be an EOD tech.”

His heroic efforts on behalf of his country earned him two Purple Heart medals and a Bronze Star medal with a “V.” Bethesda was not just the site of the Alabama native’s lengthy recovery, but also the location of two major milestones in his life Continued on next page

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-- his marriage to wife Natalie and the birth of his son Gage. While he grew up with Natalie, meeting her in middle school and graduated high school with her in 2004, he says the couple did not start dating until 2010.

They were married on Sept. 19, 2011, in Bethesda, and currently reside back in Mobile with their son and daughter Gabrielle.

He went to a different high school, but we joined the Marine Corps at the same time as part of a “buddy program” to go through recruit training together and make sure we were in the same platoon. Now we volunteer our time with other veteran organizations and get vets out and take them fishing.”

As he continues his admirable and dedicated service to the military community, one of those organizations Morris spends time with as a Veteran Ambassador is Boot Campaign. He found out about Boot Campaign in 2014 thanks to USMC Staff Sergeant (Ret.) Johnny “Joey” Jones, a fellow combat-wounded EOD technician, a fellow combat-wounded EOD technician, who was the former chief operating officer of the Texas-based non-profit charged with raising awareness and providing assistance to current military, veterans and their families.

“My kids are great,” reports the proud Marine vet, a life-long University of Alabama football fan, who says he loves to hunt, fish, shoot and hang out with his wife and kids now that his military career is over. “My son is in kindergarten and my daughter is in preschool, and they always know when I need a hug.

“I think the kids understand patriotism, but not the word,” Morris adds. “My son tells people that I am the flag. They know the pledge of allegiance and know not to be disrespectful when the national anthem is being played. They understand that Dad and his friends have fought to keep them safe.”

Marine Jeremy Collins recently opened their own inshore charter fishing service under the Contact Front Charters LLC banner, and the duo leads local excursions in and around Mobile Bay in search of such prized catch as red drum, sea trout and flounder, to name a few.

“I met Jeremy when I was like five years old when we were on the same allstar baseball team, and we became friends very quickly,” recalls Morris. “We spent almost every day together since we were five.

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“Joey introduced me, and I was instantly drawn to how welcome everyone at Boot Campaign made me feel,” says Morris. “I didn’t feel judged or like they were trying to ‘show me off.’ I love to talk about Boot Campaign every chance I get.

I know that their programs have been proven to help vets, and if I can get people who need help in touch with Boot Campaign then I will do everything I can to make it happen.”

If Morris can interest any of those veterans to join him on his boat for a little fishing and R&R, he’ll make that happen, too.

Learn more about Boot Campaign at www.BootCampaign.org.

Research Opportunities

VETERANS: WE NEED YOU VA San Diego Healthcare System and Veterans Medical Research Foundation are looking for participants for human subject research studies on Veterans health issues. Findings will help provide better treatments for Veterans and the general population.

• We are one of the largest VA research programs in the nation • We employ the most advanced research technologies • We employ some of the best, talented and world renowned researchers in the country • We conduct approximately 400 human subject studies annually

Sign up for a research study TODAY!

Some studies provide medical care and/or reimbursement for participation.

Check out our current list of research opportunities.

Visit: www.sandiego.va.gov/studies.asp and www.vmrf.org/studies.html

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Living After Sacrifice: Honoring Heroes Who Gave Their Lives in Battle

By Dan Schnock – National Alumni Director, Wounded Warrior Project

Memorial Day is a time for us to remember and express our deepest gratitude for the many soldiers who laid down their lives in service to our country. It’s a day that stands on shoulders of heroes. It pays witness to a timeless oath American warriors gave to defend this great nation at all costs – up to and including their lives.

At Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP), we honor all sacrifices made on the battlefield, and we stand ready to help those veterans who survive their injuries and come home to a new mission. It’s a mission just as important as their previous, requiring just as much dedication and endurance to achieve success: to find and live your most positive, fulfilling life.

I’m reminded of two brave warriors who lost much, but managed to find a new path forward. They survived combat injuries, and now the lives they live pay tribute to those before them – and serve as a testament to what “living after sacrifice” truly means.

They inspire us all.

It Takes a Community These days, Dozer Reed’s attitude is very positive, but it hasn’t always been that way…

While serving as a National Guard medic in Iraq, a Humvee accident launched Dozer into the vehicle’s roof. His neck and back buckled from the impact. For the next five months, Dozer tried to maintain routine missions, but the days were filled with excruciating pain.

His body could take no more.

Six surgeries later, Dozer was medically retired. Soon after, his marriage fell apart. When Dozer shares his story, he says those were the darkest days of his life.

But that wasn’t the end of his journey. He still had a mission, and Wounded Warrior Project was there to help his path forward.

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Dozer Reed & Joey Hooker

It’s still inspiring to me to see how camaraderie and peer support play such a significant role in healing – both mentally and physically.

It’s still inspiring to me to see how camaraderie and peer support play such a significant role in healing – both mentally and physically.

That’s why our connection events are so popular. They help warriors like Dozer step out of isolation and connect with warriors and their communities.

And that’s exactly what happened.

At a WWP event, Dozer met a fellow servicemember who also served in the Louisiana National Guard. That’s how the bond started. Sharing similar experiences continued to strengthen their friendship until the two warriors became like family, supporting and encouraging each other in life and recovery.

Now, Dozer’s prevailing sense of honor and need to help others has expanded. As a WWP peer mentor, he leads by example and shares his story in hopes to inspire warriors and supporters. After all, it’s his belief that it takes an entire community – from family and friends to organizations like WWP – to heal a warrior.

Living the Logo

Jack Frawley

Jack Frawley is one of more than 500,000 warriors who live with the invisible wounds of post-9/11 combat operations.

Honor. Courage. Commitment. Jack was a Marine – through and through. Which also meant he was held to higher standards. He was expected to be tougher.

More mentally fit.

But Jack’s memories of combat were vivid.

While clearing a rooftop – the same location where an improvised explosive device (IED) detonated just days before – Jack noticed paint cans and debris. The cans were open, but the building hadn’t been painted in years. He told me he clutched his rifle as he ascended the roof, mumbling “please don’t blow up.”

When Jack returned home, he tried to drink all his memories away. The heavy combat. The buddies who were injured and flown to hospitals so quickly there was no time to grieve. The casualties. The two friends he lost in an IED attack.

Jack spent most of his time hiding from friends and family as he tried to escape from the effects of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Jack, like many wounded warriors, felt alone. But he wasn’t. WWP connected him to a community of fellow combat veterans who understood what he faced daily.

While his family and friends loved and supported him, it was his service brothers and sisters who could relate to his feelings of helplessness and vulnerability after combat.

Today, Jack does everything he can to help fellow injured veterans learn better coping skills – to avoid self-medication and self-destruction. He’s living proof that PTSD can be managed. His strength and recovery have allowed him to transition from the warrior who was once being carried to the warrior who now carries others. At WWP, we call that “living the logo.”

For warriors, the logo is an undeniable symbol that reminds them of their resilience – and their passion for continued service.

The Path Forward When the first wounded returned home from the current military conflicts, our founders were inspired to help, and for the past 15 years, we have been dedicated in our mission to honor and empower Wounded Warriors.

Our organization was established on the principle of one warrior helping another – just look at our logo.

And while not everyone can serve, everyone can support brave warriors like Dozer and Jack, who were willing to sacrifice, but now live with physical and mental wounds of war.

Once these warriors are carried off the battlefield, it is our responsibility to carry them the rest of the way home, ensuring they accomplish every success they desire and deserve in life. That’s the best way to honor heroes who gave their lives in battle – to support those who made it home and help them live their best lives.

We are here to help.

About Wounded Warrior Project We Connect, Serve, and Empower The mission of Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) is to honor and empower Wounded Warriors. WWP connects wounded warriors and their families to valuable resources and one another, serves them through a variety of free programs and services, and empowers them to live life on their own terms.

WWP is a national, nonpartisan organization headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida. WWP is an accredited charity with the Better Business Bureau (BBB), is top rated by Charity Navigator, and holds a GuideStar Platinum rating. To get involved and learn more, visit woundedwarriorproject.org. (Photos courtesy WWP)

HOMELAND / May 2018 19

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Support and Celebrate Our Military!

Helping Military and Their Families

Give Back by Becoming a Player, Sponsor or a Donor 12th Annual Holes for Heroes Golf Tournament and Military Appreciation Event Friday, September 14, 2018

Lomas Santa Fe Country Club, Solana Beach

Veteran Recognition Dinner Follows the Golf Game $1.2 million raised since 2006 Sponsorship/Registration Info:

www.holesforheroes.org psullivan@holesforheroes.org

Brought to you by

San Diego Downtown Breakfast Rotary Club sdrotary.org

12th Annual Holes for Heroes Golf Tournament Registration and Sponsorship is Now Underway The San Diego Downtown Breakfast Rotary Foundation is proud to present its 12th Annual Holes for Heroes Golf Tournament and Military Appreciation event on Friday, Sept. 14, 2018 starting at 10:30 a.m. at the Lomas Santa Fe Country Club: 1505 Lomas Santa Fe Dr, Solana Beach, Calif. 92075.

Holes for Heroes has raised over $1.2 million since 2006 and hopes to continue the mission of honoring, celebrating and supporting the men and women of the military who made the commitment of Service Above Self. We hope to surpass last year’s fundraising milestone of $150,000 to support San Diego Military Charities.

“Rotary has a long tradition of supporting organizations that allow healing and hope for our wounded warriors and their families and veterans in the local San Diego community,”said Bobbi Spinner-Flack, President of San Diego Downtown Breakfast Rotary.

The Tournament and Military Appreciation Event provides a unique opportunity to spend a day on the links and dining with the troops that defend us. Veterans, friends and their family members join with us for a fun, relaxing day in the sun filled with golf and use of the www.homelandmagazine.com

lovely Lomas Santa Fe Country Club grounds including the pool, gym, tennis and spa facilities. This fantastic day concludes with the Holes for Heroes Reception/ Recognition Dinner with over 200 in attendance honoring World War II, Korea and Vietnam Veterans.

Special honorees for this year are WWII veterans and families of those lost.

100 % of funds raised from the event directly benefit local military charities including: Freedom Dogs, Honor Flight, Pegasus Rising and One More Wave Surf Corporation, Veterans Village, Physicians Advocates for Veterans, Angels of America’s Fallen, USO, Armed Services YMCA, Operation BIGS and other military community service organizations.

Be the shining beacon in the life of a wounded veteran.

Generous Sponsors and Donors like you gain recognition and also help to give hope to our military and families that we support. Now is the time to act ! Sponsorship opportunities are available and start at $275.

Give Back by Becoming a Player, Sponsor or a Donor

Please visit www.holesforheroes.org, register as a sponsor, participant/attendee.

HOMELAND / May 2018 21

geico.com/san-diego-north | 760-753-7907 | dagrant@geico.com 711 Center Drive | San Marcos Some discounts, coverages, payment plans and features are not available in all states or all GEICO companies. GEICO is a registered service mark of Government Employees Insurance Company, Washington, D.C. 20076; a Berkshire Hathaway Inc. subsidiary. GEICO Gecko image Š 1999-2018. Š 2018 GEICO

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HOMELAND / May 2018

Memorial Day Veterans Day What’s the difference?

Memorial Day:

Veterans Day:

Celebrated the last Monday in May, Memorial Day is the holiday set aside to pay tribute to those who died serving in the military.

This federal holiday falls on November 11 and is designated as a day to honor all who have served in the military.

For nearly 150 years, Americans have gathered in late spring to honor the sacrifice of those who have given their lives in service to their country. What began with dozens of informal commemorations of those killed in the Civil War has grown to become one of the nation’s most solemn and hallowed holidays.

Veterans Day began as Armistice Day to honor the end of World War I, which officially took place on November 11, 1918.

“Three years after the Civil War ended, on May 5, 1868, the head of an organization of Union veterans -- the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) -- established Decoration Day as a time for the nation to decorate the graves of the war dead with flowers. Maj. Gen. John A. Logan declared that Decoration Day should be observed on May 30. It is believed that date was chosen because flowers would be in bloom all over the country.”

“In 1954, after having been through both World War II and the Korean War, the 83rd U.S. Congress -- at the urging of the veterans service organizations -- amended the Act of 1938 by striking out the word “Armistice” and inserting the word “Veterans,” the site says. “With the approval of this legislation on June 1, 1954, November 11 became a day to honor American veterans of all wars.”

The passage of the National Holiday Act of 1971

by Congress made it an official holiday.

HOMELAND / May 2018 23

Memorial Day A Time for Heroes A teenager learns the importance of war veterans in this inspiring story.

By Nancy Sullivan Geng

I leaned against an oak at the side of the road, wishing I were invisible, keeping my distance from my parents on their lawn chairs and my younger siblings scampering about.

I hoped none of my friends saw me there. God forbid they caught me waving one of the small American flags Mom bought at Ben Franklin for a dime. At 16, I was too old and definitely too cool for our small town’s Memorial Day parade.

I ought to be at the lake, I brooded. But, no, the all-day festivities were mandatory in my family.

A high school band marched by, the girl in sequins missing her baton as it tumbled from the sky.

Firemen blasted sirens in their polished red trucks. The uniforms on the troop of World War II veterans looked too snug on more than one member.

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And I knew that perched on the backseat of one of the cars, waving and smiling, was Mama, my grandmother. She had a corsage on her lapel and a sign in gold embossed letters on the car door: “Gold Star Mother.”

I hid behind the tree so I wouldn’t have to meet her gaze. It wasn’t because I didn’t love her or appreciate her. She’d taught me how to sew, to call a strike in baseball. She made great cinnamon rolls, which we always ate after the parade.

What embarrassed me was all the attention she got for a son who had died 20 years earlier. With four other children and a dozen grandchildren, why linger over this one long-ago loss?

I peeked out from behind the oak just in time to see Mama wave and blow my family a kiss as the motorcade moved on. The purple ribbon on her hat fluttered in the breeze.

The rest of our Memorial Day ritual was equally scripted.

No use trying to get out of it. I followed my family back to Mama’s house, where there was the usual baseball game in the backyard and the same old reminiscing about Uncle Bud in the kitchen.

Helping myself to a cinnamon roll, I retreated to the living room and plopped down on an armchair.

Sometimes I wondered about that boy dying alone in a muddy ditch in a foreign country he’d only read about. I thought of the scared kid who jumped out of a foxhole in front of an advancing enemy, only to be downed by a sniper. I couldn’t reconcile the image of the boy and his dog with that of the stalwart soldier.

Mama stood beside me for a while, looking at the photo.

There I found myself staring at the Army photo of Bud on the bookcase. The uncle I’d never known. I must have looked at him a thousand times—so proud in his crested cap and knotted tie. His uniform was decorated with military emblems that I could never decode.

From outside came the sharp snap of an American flag flapping in the breeze and the voices of my cousins cheering my brother at bat.

Funny, he was starting to look younger to me as I got older. Who were you, Uncle Bud? I nearly asked aloud.

Without a word she turned and walked down the hall to the back bedroom. I followed.

I picked up the photo and turned it over. Yellowing tape held a prayer card that read: “Lloyd ‘Bud’ Heitzman, 19251944. A Great Hero.” Nineteen years old when he died, not much older than I was. But a great hero? How could you be a hero at 19?

She opened a bureau drawer and took out a small metal box, then sank down onto the bed.

The floorboards creaked behind me. I turned to see Mama coming in from the kitchen, wiping her hands on her apron.

I almost hid the photo because I didn’t want to listen to the same stories I’d heard year after year: “Your uncle Bud had this little rat-terrier named Jiggs.

Good old Jiggs. How he loved that mutt! He wouldn’t go

”Mama,” I asked, “what’s a hero?”

”These are Bud’s things,” she said. “They sent them to us after he died.” She opened the lid and handed me a telegram dated October 13, 1944. “The Secretary of State regrets to inform you that your son, Lloyd Heitzman, was killed in Italy.” Your son! I imagined Mama reading that sentence for the first time. I didn’t know what I would have done if I’d gotten a telegram like that.

“Here’s Bud’s wallet,” she continued. Even after all those years, it was caked with dried mud. Inside was Bud’s driver’s license with the date of his sixteenth birthday.

Continued on next page

anywhere without Jiggs. He used to put him in the rumble seat of his Chevy coupe and drive all over town. ”Remember how hard Bud worked after we lost the farm? At haying season he worked all day, sunrise to sunset, baling for other farmers. Then he brought me all his wages.

He’d say, ‘Mama, someday I’m going to buy you a brandnew farm. I promise.’ There wasn’t a better boy in the world!”

Continued on next page

HOMELAND / May 2018 25

I compared it with the driver’s license I had just received.

A photo of Bud holding a little spotted dog fell out of the wallet. Jiggs. Bud looked so pleased with his mutt.

There were other photos in the wallet: a laughing Bud standing arm in arm with two buddies, photos of my mom and aunt and uncle, another of Mama waving. This was the home Uncle Bud took with him, I thought.

I could see him in a foxhole, taking out these snapshots to remind himself of how much he was loved and missed.

“Who’s this?” I asked, pointing to a shot of a pretty darkhaired girl. “Marie. Bud dated her in high school. He wanted to marry her when he came home.” A girlfriend?

Marriage? How heartbreaking to have a life, plans and hopes for the future, so brutally snuffed out.

Sitting on the bed, Mema and I sifted through the treasures in the box: a gold watch that had never been wound again. A sympathy letter from President Roosevelt, and one from Bud’s commander. A medal shaped like a heart, trimmed with a purple ribbon, and at the very bottom, the deed to Mama’s house.

“Why’s this here?” I asked.

“Because Bud bought this house for me.” She explained how after his death, the U.S. government gave her 10 thousand dollars, and with it she built the house she was still living in.

“He kept his promise all right,” Mama said in a quiet voice I’d never heard before.

For a long while the two of us sat there on the bed.

Then we put the wallet, the medal, the letters, the watch, the photos and the deed back into the metal box. I finally understood why it was so important for Mama—and me—to remember Uncle Bud on this day.

If he’d lived longer he might have built that house for Mama or married his high-school girlfriend. There might have been children and grandchildren to remember him by.

As it was, there was only that box, the name in the program and the reminiscing around the kitchen table.

“I guess he was a hero because he gave everything for what he believed,” I said carefully. “Yes, child,” Mama replied, wiping a tear with the back of her hand. “Don’t ever forget that.”

I haven’t. Even today with Mama gone, my husband and I take our lawn chairs to the tree-shaded boulevard on Memorial Day and give our three daughters small American flags that I buy for a quarter at Ben Franklin.

I want them to remember that life isn’t just about getting what you want. Sometimes it involves giving up the things you love for what you love even more.

That many men and women did the same for their country—that’s what I think when I see the parade pass by now.

And if I close my eyes and imagine, I can still see Mama in her regal purple hat, honoring her son, a true American hero.

Memorial Day We Will Never Forget

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“In Flanders Fields” is a war

poem in the form of a rondeau, written during the First World War by Canadian physician Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae. He was inspired to write it on May 3, 1915, after presiding over the funeral of friend and fellow soldier Lieutenant Alexis Helmer.

It is one of the most popular and most quoted poems from the war. Its references to the red poppies that grew over the graves of fallen soldiers resulted in the remembrance poppy becoming one of the world’s most recognized memorial symbols for soldiers who have died in conflict. The poem and poppy are prominent Remembrance Day symbols throughout the Commonwealth of Nations, particularly in Canada, where “In Flanders Fields” is one of the nation’s best-known literary works. The poem is also widely known in the United States, where it is associated with Memorial Day.

In Flanders Fields

by John McCrae

In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses row on row, That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved and were loved and now we lie In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe: To you, from failing hands we throw The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep, though poppies grow, In Flanders fields.

HOMELAND / May 2018 27

WID San Diego Chapter Women In Defense (WID) engages, cultivates and supports the advancement and recognition of women in all aspects of national security Come join us at our upcoming events, for more information please check out our website at www.WIDSanDiego.org or contact us at admin@WIDSanDiego.org.

19 April - Membership Drive, Cosmopolitan Hotel, San Diego, CA June - Scholarship Fundraiser Event, Negociant Winery, CA 22 August - Annual Sympsoium, Brick, San Diego, CA October - Annual Event, Women’s Museum of CA, San Diego, CA December - Holiday Mixer, TBD, San Diego, CA

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Making the transition back to civilian life is not a job change, it is a life change!

Our 3 Week REBOOT Workshop Will Help You

ReLearn – ReBuild – ReBrand

REBOOT WorkshopTM is a three-week intensive military to civilian transition workshop that provides extensive training focused on three areas: Personal Transition, Lifestyle Transition & Career Transition.

"Before the program I was more concerned with everything that was going on around me. Now, I control what is actually happening around me by changing my mindset and actually using positive thinking in my everyday life."

- REBOOT Graduate Class 65

REBOOT TM addresses the personal and social aspects of transition to civilian life by using research-based, outcome driven methods drawn from best practices in career planning and cognitive-behavioral techniques. Our workshop training is supplemented with extended follow-up that enhances career opportunities, promotes social networking, and leverages peer support.

REBOOTTM is a scholarship based workshop available to military active duty and veterans of all wars.

Now enrolling for 2018 Workshops

Register Online!

www.rebootworkshop.vet 9242 Lightwave Avenue Suite 120, San Diego, CA 92123 Phone: 619-822-2704 • reboot@nvtsi.org

National Veterans Transition Services, Inc. - NVTSI is a San Diego-based 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to assisting veterans in adjusting to civilian life and secure meaningful employment by combining best-practice performance techniques. The organization was established by a group of retired high ranking Naval and Marine Corps officers and workforce development professionals who seek to fill a tremendous gap in the continuum of veteran services.

HOMELAND / May 2018 29

ENLISTED TO ENTREPRENEUR

By Vicki Garcia

Innovation: The Brainchild of Imagination

Hence Mail Boxes, Etc., an alternative to standing in line to be “helped” by uninspired, burned-out, and overworked postal workers. Mail Boxes Etc., founded in 1980 has grown to be the world’s largest franchisor of retail shipping.

In 2001 Mail Boxes Etc., Inc. was acquired by UPS and rebranded as The UPS Store. In 2017 and 2018 the UPS Store was named one of the top 50 business service franchises.

USA Today and G.I. Jobs named The UPS Store franchise opportunity in the 50 Top Franchises for Military Veterans.

Albert Einstein once said, “Imagination is more important than knowledge.”

It’s been repeated endlessly to support the idea that you can be an ignoramus and succeed. Maybe.

Maybe not. There’s no substitute for knowing what you’re doing. On the other hand, a lack of imagination, creativity, and innovation stifles growth.

It’s great that entrepreneurs have come up with innovative solutions to everyday problems we didn’t even know were problems.

How the Tedium of Standing in Line at the Post Office Turned into a Big Business An enterprising entrepreneur looked at the U.S. Postal Service and determined the market needed better services (we knew that).

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Even Sharks Can Be Wrong Ring. Isn’t that a great name?

Take note. Ring founder and Chief Executive Jamie Siminoff, an inveterate tinkerer, was working on a humane mousetrap in his garage (of course) when his wife asked him to create a way to see who was at the door when the doorbell rang. For Siminoff it was a spur-of-the-moment, nobig-deal little bit of technology he could easily generate.

Ring’s journey started with a $200 doorbell that streams video to residents’ smartphones, enabling them to talk back to guests. It promises peace of mind helping homeowners feel safe when someone knocks on the door. Footage of burglars from the doorbells has become a fixture of Facebook and local TV news.

Who knew we needed that?

Sales of video doorbells are growing faster than for any other home device, with Ring the leader. Ring turned a picked-on nerdy kid into one of the nation’s hottest hardware entrepreneurs. Ring is up to a million customers with sales last year of $155 million.

Insurers subsidize the doorbells for customers. Police departments have praised them. Home burglaries declined 55% in six months in some neighborhoods.

By the way, the investors on ABC’s “Shark Tank” had a chance to be early backers when Siminoff appeared in a 2013 episode seeking a $700,000 investment in exchange for 10 percent of his company, but they turned him down. Dumb. Recently Amazon announced it would purchase Ring in a deal reportedly worth $1 billion.

5 Common Roadblocks That Derail Innovation 1) A Locked Mind Many small businesses cling to doing things as they’ve always done. Taking risks and even talking about exploring new ideas is often quickly dismissed.

We often hear phrases such as “it’s not our tradition,” and “we don’t do things like that.”

The things that worked in the past are valuable but limiting new ideas is a guaranteed way of taking the air out of your most creative employees and stifling innovation.

2) Restricted Hiring There’s a lot of talk about diversity in the workplace.

Diversity is not only about doing your civic duty.

Hiring employees with different backgrounds will help create an environment that nurtures imagination.

People who bring different views and ideas to a small business will spark innovation blasting through an echo chamber where everyone is thinking the same thoughts.

3) The Micromanagement Paradox If you want to strip people of any creativity, passion or drive, micromanage them. Controlling every aspect of a project, over involving yourself in projects and ensuring all approval goes through you feels safe but its a sure way to kill innovation.

Micromanagement is the bulwark of the insecure and kills innovation. Want to stifle imagination and damage morale?

Micromanage.

Instead, foster imaginative thinkers to find new ways to find solutions to problems and nourish both themselves and the business. Be the leader that embodies the qualities that you want on your team.

4) Ignore Feedback Shut up and listen. I know it’s not easy, but it really pays off. Some of the most ridiculous ideas have become viable. If you enter the room thinking you’re the smartest person there, you will get poor results. When bringing groups together with the intention of listening to feedback, you can kill the effort by tapping into titles and seniority. Nurture contribution to foster a space of trust, honesty, and safety for all involved.

The Average human being attention span is 8 seconds. The average attention span of a goldfish, is 9 seconds.

5) A Stopwatch Mentality Innovation requires space and time. When you’re more interested in time and cut off yourself to new experiences you remove the potential for new ideas. Research has supported that meditation increases focus, attention span and creativity, including in the workplace. Invest in low-intensity activities, like taking a walk to free your mind and create.

If you see yourself in any of these roadblocks, knock it off. Stand back and see what happens.

Vicki Garcia is the Co-Founder of Veteran Entrepreneurs Today (V.E.T.) & President of Marketing Impressions, a 30+ year old marketing consulting firm. Email her at vicki@veteranentrepreneurstoday.org for free help in starting and running your business. www.homelandmagazine.com

HOMELAND / May 2018 31

SUCCESSFULLY TRANSITIONING FROM THE ARMED FORCES INTO THE WORKFORCE

Benevolent Naval Veteran Inspired to Establish Philanthropic Component to Benefit the San Diego Community and US Veterans

Military and Veterans, What Does Transition Mean?

by Eva M. Stimson

By Maurice Wilson, MCPO, USN (ret) President/Executive Director, National Veterans Transition Services, Inc. aka REBOOT In big cities and small towns, every November people line the streets to watch parades, as a way to remember the men and women who have served our country, in peace and in war. As a nation, we love a parade, always quick to give a reverent cheerwhen the military band strikes one of John Philip Sousa’s patriotic marches. One and all, we take pride in our military.

The Silent Parade. Attracting much less attention, there has been a silent parade every day – with no pomp and pageantry – the marchers comprised of roughly 250,000 transitioning military men and women every year who are released from active duty. More obscure are older veterans, some going back to the Vietnam War, still seeking the peace they fought valiantly to help America protect. There is no music but a cacophony, a harsh mixture of discordant notes: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Traumatic Brain Injury, Homelessness, Unemployment, Divorce, Substance Abuse, Incarceration, and the saddest note, Suicide.

Why Do Problems Persist in Reintegration? It’s not that America doesn’t care, because we do. Reintegration is a hairy problem. Our President has requested a FY2017 budget of $182.3 billion for the Veterans Administration.

Other government agencies also dedicate portions of their budgets to support veterans. In addition, there are over 45,000 nonprofit Veteran Service Organizations (VSOs), staffed mostly by volunteers – veterans, military spouses and other caring folks – all trumpeting different problems and proposed solutions. Meanwhile, the VA and other 32

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government agencies are revamping their programs to better serve transitioning service members. As a nation, westruggle to find solutions that bring our veterans peace they deserve. According to a Congressional Joint Economic Committee study dated November 2015, young veterans aged 18 to 24 face significantly higher rates of unemployment, poverty and homelessness (16.2%) than their similarly aged non-veteran peers (12.5%). In fact, the homeless rate among young veterans is more than double the rate among non-veterans the same age.

How Should We Measure the Success of Reintegration? That’s what our team at the National Veterans Reintegration Services, Inc. (aka REBOOT) has focused on for the past seven years. At REBOOT, we are a mixture of veterans and business executives.

For us, success begins with Metrics, knowing what we’re shooting for. Take veteran employment, especially for post 9/11 veterans who suffer the highest unemployment. Although job placement is critical to reduce unemployment, what is equally if not more important is job retention, for both employee and employer. Problems caused by PTSD, TBI and a host of war-related maladies notwithstanding, veteran job retention is far worse than for their non-veteran counterparts.

And the period of unemployment following release from active duty is lengthening. Why? Graham and Kyrié Bloem

Fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan doesn’t help a young person acclimate to a civilian job, especially if she or he joined the military straight from high school or college.

Because these veterans do not qualify for Social Security Unemployment Insurance, DoD’s Unemployment Compensation for Ex-service members (UCX Program) hasexceeded $1 billion annually.

Should We Focus on Cheaper Prevention Costs? At REBOOT’s Centers for Military and Veteran Reintegration, we not only help transitioning military and veterans with resume writing and interviewing skills but, as funding allows, invite them to attend our free 3-week REBOOT Workshop™. Our mantra is RELEARN, REBUILD, REBRAND. We devote one week to each, with the curriculum based on the science of helping people change their psychosocialbehaviors. For the past seven years, our placement rate of graduates (into gainful employment or postsecondary education) has been 97%, and our secondyear retention rate is 93%. REBOOT co-founders Ronne Froman (Rear Admiral, USN retired) and Maurice Wilson (Master Chief Petty Officer, USN retired) have been recognized by the White House as Champions of Change.

And we work closely with a host of other caregivers and partners in each community.

Who Are the Players in the Social Enterprise? It’s all of us in America. While it sounds almost trite to say that it takes a village, it does take a village, or a community of caregivers and willing partners. It took us a few years at REBOOT to realize that we are part of a larger Social Enterprise that caters to the needs of each single veteran.

In addition to our dedicated volunteers and staff at REBOOT, we have a symbiotic relationship with our sister nonprofits, providing what we each do best. And partnering with us are funding institutions – individual donors, institutional philanthropies, academia and other research organizations, VA and other government agencies, and most of all, prospective employers – together we constitute a Veteran’s Ecosystem. It’s based on a pull system wherein prospective employers who are interested in hiring our country’s veterans are able to capitalize on our increasing pool of Veterans Ready for Hire. If you are still on active duty but preparing for your transition, or already a veteran, come to our monthly Muster. Finally, 2 of 3 new jobs in the country have been created by small businesses in the last twenty years, you are a critical part of a Veteran’s Ecosystem.

We have all heard or read about returning veterans from Iraq or Afghanistan and the psychological and physical problems they face from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Traumatic Brain Injury to substance dependency and alienation from their families.

www.homelandmagazine.com

NVTSI provides returning military personnel with the tools and retraining they need to return to civilian life as productive, acclimated, and effective individuals capable of attaining success and thriving in their new lives.

War veterans return from a life of vigilance safeguarding our everyday existence, and are unable to find the life they left behind. Their culture: the military culture is out of place and at odds with the job market. Society is foreign, their families are strangers, they do not know what they want to do with their new lives – they are out of sync with what used to be home. For many, societal reintegration is out of reach without help.

The government doesa great job introducing separating military personnel to the job search and veteran’s benefits, but the community has to help returning service people reintegrate, making the leap to a new independent mindset, reversing the boot camp experience that has given them the skills and mentality they need to survive in a combat-driven environment.

To learn more about the REBOOT Workshop™ , visit us at www.rebootworkshop.vet

Introducing Our New Columnist I wanted to call your attention to our new columnist, Maurice Wilson.

A retired Navy Master Chief Petty Officer with 25 years of service, Maurice is the President/Executive Director of the National Veterans Transition Services, Inc. (NVTSI). A non-profit organization he co-founded with retired Rear Admiral Ronne Froman after serving as an advisory member for the Call of Duty Endowment (CODE) where he got his inspiration to design REBOOT. Troubled with the high unemployment, homelessness, suicide and other issues associated with military-tocivilian reintegration, Wilson designed the REBOOT Workshop™ a three-week behavior-based transition program designed to help returning service members/ veterans successfully reintegrate back into civilian life after years of military service.

Maurice will be covering the issues and topics relating to successfully transitioning from the armed forces into the workforce.

From the Editor-in-Chief I’m thrilled that Maurice has agreed to join this project.

In addition to a wide range of views from outside writers, you can expect other additions to our regular roster in coming months as we continue to diversify our lineup and enrich our content.

HOMELAND / May 2018 33

Veteran Leadership Not Just Leadership Strong, But “Veteran Strong”

By Joe Molina

Many of you probably know someone who was admired and well-respected while in Active Duty, and who managed 10, 100 or even 200 military personnel.

However, now in the civilian environment that leader is having “personnel” issues with fewer people and feeling like he/she is not doing a good job. Sound familiar?

The strength of a Veteran as a Leader comes from the understanding that we worked in teams, cared for and depended upon each other to complete the mission.

Veterans understand that Leadership is about guiding and supporting each other, while serving and protecting the team. For the Veteran Leader it is all about keeping a watch on the team and making sure each member is fully equipped with all the resources needed to complete each task and successfully achieve the desired goal.

Leadership for Veterans is almost second nature. It is a skill learned well during our military life and becomes a part of our core principles and values. The challenge for every one of us, as Veterans, is to learn how to implement and apply those same values and principles in our new careers in the civilian environment. We need to understand how to make the skills and strategies learned in the military fit in the private sector. T here is no doubt that organizations will benefit greatly from the Leadership skills a Veteran brings to the organization. It is important, however, that we as Veterans recognize the differences between managing personnel in the military versus the private sector.

I have encountered highly skilled Veterans who were recognized as super Leaders while in the military, but now they struggle in their new jobs as supervisors or managers.

Below are some powerful principles of Leadership that, when combined with any of the skills learned in the military, translate well into the civilian environment.

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1 Communication: Leaders must have a clear vision, strong passion and a clear goal. Since communication is the foundation of Leadership, a Leader must be able to communicate the mission clearly in order to motivate others. Leaders with a clear vision and the ability to share that vision, can help the team become fully engaged and fully committed to the mission.

2 Motivation: This is the energy that drives the team and gives every member the desire to complete the mission. Motivation is primarily based on two factors: Extrinsic factors like rewards and Intrinsic factors like values and principles. Leaders understand that maintaining a balance of these two factors is key to the success of each mission. The first and most crucial element of motivation, is that the Leader must be Motivated First!

3 Delegation: Do you know anyone who is always saying “If I need something done right, I better do it myself.” This is a perfect example of someone who needs to understand how to delegate. Delegation is an art. Delegation is about trusting others with important aspects of the job. A great Leader knows that team members are motivated when they feel trusted, valued, respected and appreciated. Delegation is one way a Leader can get that point across.

Delegation starts from the Leader, because the Leader needs to be okay with sharing authority and allowing others to take on responsibility and make decisions related to the job. Delegation is learned over time and by small steps.

4 Empowerment: Empowerment is a “Sharing of Power.” Leaders who empower, allow their team to make choices, implement corrective actions and identify possible solutions. This type of empowerment creates ownership and makes a team feel confident and ready to accomplish the task. An empowered team is evidence that the Leader has delegated appropriately.

Great Leaders Inspire others to “WANT TO DO” and welcome those who want to come along and follow the vision. Leaders don’t just tell people what to do.

Telling people what to do promotes a feeling of being micromanaged and limits motivation, creativity, collaboration and innovation.

Nota bene: Leaders Lead by Inspiration. It is the act of allowing others to come along and follow that makes one a Leader.

JOIN US

Veterans Chamber of Commerce www.vccsd.org

We are the Voice and Action of our Veteran Community.

Access a Network of Veterans, Service Providers and Resources to Help your business Grow!

We support programs that Improve the quality of life of our Families and our Communities.

For more information please visit our website www.vccsd.org or send us an email veteransccsd@gmail.com

We encourage and Support New and Existing Entrepreneurs

www.vccsd.org

www.homelandmagazine.com

HOMELAND / May 2018 35

FINANCIAL An Installment Agreement is not always automatic, especially if you have funds available to full pay the liability. You can always call or go into your local IRS office to discuss the matter (but make an appointment first as most offices require them).

If you are unable to pay, you will be asked to fill out a CIS in order for the IRS to consider your case to be a hardship. If they do grant you that hardship status, you will still owe the liability and you will receive annual notices of reminder and you may still end up with that Lien filed at the recorder.

The IRS is calling, now what?

By Chris Martin You filed your taxes by April 17 and you owe them this year and you did not send the payment in with your tax return. Now the bill is coming due, what do you do? I spent 32 years as a Collection Revenue Officer after leaving the Army, so here is my advice if you should receive one of those notices.

First thing you should do is not panic. The IRS will send you a bill and may allow you to make payments if you can’t full pay upon notice. Depending on how much your bill is you may get an immediate Installment Agreement or you may have to fill out a Collection Information Statement (CIS) and have it reviewed before one is granted.

You will have to pay interest and some penalties.

Depending on your balance due, a Notice of Federal Tax Lien may be filed with the county recorder. This is something to consider as it will have an effect on your credit if one is filed. This Lien establishes priority with other creditors and it is filed to protect the government’s interest and it lasts 10 years or until the entire balance is paid, whichever comes first.

If you ignore the notices, you may end up with a Notice of Levy on your bank account or your wages, or in some cases, a Revenue Officer knocking on your door.

It is always a good idea to respond to the notices you receive.

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Interest will continue to accrue as will some penalties so don’t be alarmed when you see the bill increasing every year.

Secondly, review your withholding and consider changing it. The fact that you owe is most likely caused by your not having sufficient withholding.

Making a change to your withholding could mean the difference in a refund or owing. It is always a good idea to review your withholding mid-year to determine if you need to adjust it. You can go online and do a paycheck checkup on the IRS website, www.irs.gov.

Lastly, do not fall for those imposters that call and tell you that you are going to jail if you don’t immediately go buy a pre-paid debit card, a gift card or wire transfer.

IRS will never initiate emails or calls like these and they will never ask you to pay via some gift card. They will not threaten to have you arrested if you don’t pay and they won’t ask for a debit card or credit card number over the phone.

Scams are prevalent and the IRS even has what they call the “dirty dozen” which is an annual list of the top dozen scams. Do not be afraid to contact the IRS if you do not understand the balance due notice or if you disagree with the balance due notice. They will be happy to review it for you and assist you. Also, an Installment Agreement or Hardship status is not the only option available if you have a balance due.

For additional options, contact your local IRS office or go to their website.

legal 8 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ON STARTING A BUSINESS

By Kelly Bagla. Esq. Having been a start-up lawyer and entrepreneur, I have been asked many of the following questions over the years from entrepreneurs when starting their company.

Sometimes there isn’t an easy answer, and as lawyers often like to say, “it depends on the circumstances.”

But, here are my short-hand answers to the frequently asked start-up questions: 1. Should I form my company as C corporation, an S corporation, an LLC, a partnership or a sole proprietorship? Start it as an S corporation, unless you have to issue both common stock and preferred stock; in that case start it as a C corporation. And an S corporation can easily be converted later into a C corporation. LLCs are popular, but can get overly complicated. Partnerships and sole proprietorships are to be avoided because of the potential personal liability to the owners of the business.

2. Where should I incorporate my business?

The standard answer to this is Delaware because of its well-developed corporate law. My answer is that it should be the state the business is located, as this will save you some fees and complexities. You can always reincorporate later in Delaware.

3. How much should I capitalize my business with at the beginning? As much as you can reasonably afford, and in an amount to at least carry you for 6-9 months with no income. What you will find is that it always takes you longer to get revenues, and that you will experience more expenses than you anticipated.

4. How can I come up with a great name for my business? This is difficult. First brainstorm with a bunch of different names. Then do a Google search to see what is already taken, and that will eliminate 95% of your choices. Make it easy to spell. Make it interesting.

Don’t pick a nonsensical name where people won’t have a clue as to what you do. Do a trademark/tradename search on the name. Then make sure you can get the domain name.

5. What are the biggest challenges to starting a business? The answers are: • Shortage of capital and cash flow • Having a good business plan • Coming up with a great product or service • Sticking to it • Working more than you expected

• Getting through the frustrations of being constantly rejected by customers • Hiring good employees • Knowing when to fire bad employees • Having to wear so many hats • Managing your time • Maintaining some kind of work/life balance 6. What kind of business should I start?

A business that: • You are passionate about • Doesn’t take a kazillion dollars to fund • Has the potential to grow into something big in a reasonable time frame • You have some experience in 7. What are the biggest mistakes made by start-up entrepreneurs?

• Not starting with enough capital • Thinking that success will come quickly • Not carefully budgeting • Not focusing on the quality of the product or service • Underestimating the importance of sales and marketing • Not adapting quickly enough • Not understanding the competitive landscape • Ignoring legal and contract matters • Hiring the wrong employees • Mispricing the product or service 8. Where can I get money for my business?

Many books and articles have been written on this subject as well. Here is a summary of the most effective sources of capital: • Personal funds • Credit cards • Friends and family • Angel investors • Crowdsourcing sites such as Indiegogo.com and Kickstarter.com • Bank loans/SBA financings • Venture capitalists • Equipment loan financing What book is helpful for learning more about starting a business?

• Go Legal Yourself by Kelly Bagla, Esq. Contact Kelly at: (760) 784-9109 Kelly@baglalaw.com www.baglalaw.com

HOMELAND / May 2018 37

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Military service can be a perfect entrance into a law enforcement career.

Military and law enforcement personnel have had a long-standing relationship with overlaps in training exercises, equipment, and, most important, personnel.

It is not uncommon for a service member to make the jump from the military to law enforcement, as both professions look for the same characteristics; leadership, fidelity, chain of command, and teamwork are all common themes in both professions.

Quite understandably, many American military veterans often gravitate to a career in law enforcement when the time comes to rejoin the civilian workforce.

The two professions have many fundamental similarities; from the uniforms they wear with pride, to the firm command structure they serve under, to great personal risk they endure while protecting those who cannot protect themselves.

Opportunities in Law Enforcement

You’ve served your country, now serve your community!

The following agencies are actively hiring & proudly support our veterans, active military and the families that keep together.

We thank you for your service, to all the men and women in law enforcement around the world for your courage, your commitment & your sacrifice.

- Homeland Magazine -

HOMELAND / May 2018 39

Become A Part of Our Story!

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There’s a story behind every badge, and a person behind every story. There are For upcoming test dates as many reasons and motivations for and locations visit joining the Washington State Patrol as PublicSafetyTesting.com there are troopers themselves.

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Colorado Springs Police Department Safeguarding Our Community As Our Family (719) 444-7437 cspd.coloradosprings.gov Recruiting@ci.colospgs.co.us Facebook: Colorado Springs Police twitter@cspd.pio

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Visit our website for further information and fill out a job interest card today! cspd.coloradosprings.gov

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PGH POLICE

LEAD. SERVE. PROTECT. The City of Pittsburgh Bureau of Police is looking for individuals to lead, serve, and protect. We value our service members and offer the following benefits: Medical, Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance Tuition Reimbursement Veterans Preference Points Career advancement through our specialized units Join us in one of America's most livable cities

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Join A Great Team!

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For employment questions call Sheriff’s Office Human Resources

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• At Coconino County Sheriff’s Office our Service to the Community is accomplished by hiring the Best!

• [Check out our agency and find a home where you can apply the skills you’ve learned in the military.]

• Coconino County Sheriff’s Office is committed to providing responsive and effective Service to Community.

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SEPTEMBER 14-16,2018